ZX Spectrum Information

ZX Spectrum – a third computer of the Sinclair Research Ltd Company, which was released in 1982. Unlike the previous two company’s computers, it has a graphic video mode with color graphics and more RAM and ROM. The computer went on sale in April 23, 1982 and had a price of £125 for the version with 16 KB of RAM and £175 for the version with 48 KB. Subsequently the price was reduced to £99 and £129 respectively. The main advantage and the achievement of the ZX Spectrum computer was its low price. However, it has been achieved at the expense of saving on all components and reducing specifications compared to other home computers of that time.

The hardware of a computer was developed by Richard Altwasser. Firmware (BASIC and ROM) developed by Nine Tiles company, directly by Steven Vickers. Design and look of the computer was made by Rick Dickinson. ZX Spectrum kit includes a tape with software from Psion (mostly Arkanoid-like games written in BASIC).

In June 1984 began the development of improved version of ZX Spectrum called ZX Spectrum+. It has the improved keyboard and the presence of reset button, which was absent in the original ZX Spectrum. The new model went on sale in October 1984 and had a value of £179.95.

During the development the computer had the name ZX82, extending the system of names of previous models (ZX80 and ZX81). With the release of the computer on the market the name was changed for marketing purposes – to emphasize the ability to display color graphics, missing in previous models, the computer was called ZX Spectrum. For a long time, it remained unknown the meaning of ZX letters in the title. Clive Sinclair gave an interview in 2010 where he said that the ZX combination of letters has been selected for ZX80 because it sounds “cool and futuristic”.

ZX Spectrum roms games as well as the emulator can be downloaded for free on this page. Enjoy the gameplay on your modern pc, ios or android device.